Editors' Choice Awards 2001 Page 2

A/V Receiver

Integra DTR-9.1
($3200; reviewed by Michael Fremer, January 2001)
Michael Fremer found that this receiver's ergonomics and suave yet detailed sound placed it right at the top of his list of favorite receivers. You can read all about it in his review in this issue.

Kenwood VR-4900
($2000; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, September 2000)
This was one of the tighter races. Good high-end receivers are becoming more common, putting quality home theater within the financial grasp of more and more enthusiasts. But the Kenwood VR-4900 won my affections with its component video switching, analog 6-channel input set for DVD-Audio and multichannel SACD, phono stage, and 24-bit/96kHz A/D and D/A converters. It also features Universal Video, which will convert any composite or S-video input to component output, greatly simplifying system setup and switching. And if those aren't enough, throw in a touchscreen IR/RF remote that will make you feel as if you've just stepped into one of those high-roller home theaters. The Kenwood includes a remarkable assortment of features for the price.

But features alone would not float our boat if the sound was wrong, and it isn't. The Kenwood sounds majestic on large-scale material, delicate and sweet on small, whether the source be music or film soundtrack. The only thing it lacks is cinema equalization—but the sound was smooth enough that, given reasonably good program material and speakers, I never missed it.

One-Piece Television

Philips 55PP9701
($4700; reviewed by Michael Fremer, January 2001)
Michael Fremer liked the 55-inch-diagonal, 16:9 Philips so much that he bought the review sample. No need to say more here; his review appears in this issue.

Toshiba TW40X81
($2999; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, March/April 2000)

One of the risks of this sort of award, particularly with such products as televisions, is being caught out by rapid model replacements. Since its review, the 16:9, 40-inch-diagonal TW40X81 has been replaced by the 40H80. While we have no hands-on experience of the latter, all indications are that it is very similar to the TW40X81, which was so good that I bought the review sample. The high-definition-capable Toshiba (an optional, outboard decoder, $999, is required to receive hi-def broadcasts) boasts solid HDTV performance and exceptional DVD performance. Its built-in line doubler is more than up to the job with such standard-definition sources, but it performs even better with an outboard, progressive-scan DVD player.

Like all one-piece sets of our experience, the Toshiba doesn't look particularly special with its video controls set to their factory default positions; on a showroom floor, you're unlikely to see what it can do. Properly calibrated, however, it's a knockout. It's the smallest-screened PTV on the market, but that's a major plus for a small-room home theater—it makes the TW40X81 a real alternative to direct-view sets. The wonder is that other manufacturers haven't yet figured that out. The Toshiba is a gem; the only problem is that it seems to be in perpetually short supply.

Video Projector

Vidikron Vision Three
($24,995; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, October 2000)
It may not have quite the cachet of Vidikron's flagship, the Vision One, but the Vision Three came out a winner in what proved to be a tight race. What can you say about a video projector that produces an image that, in a carefully performed side-by-side comparison, for most viewers will come up short only of the Vision One? We said plenty in our full review, but suffice it to say here that no one with the credit line sufficient to invest in the Vision Three is likely to be disappointed.

Also important to the Vision Three's installed performance—and to its win here—is its wide dealer support. A sophisticated CRT projector should be purchased from and installed by a competent nearby dealer. CRT projectors are delicate beasts, as the Ferrari colors of Vidikron projectors unsubtly remind you; periodic, on-site tweaking is mandatory if you want to continue to see them at their best.

Sony VPL-VW10HT
($6990; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, May 2000)
We reviewed many fine projectors in the past year. But when selecting a Gold Award winner, respect must be paid to products that offer more than expected value for the money. While the Sony VPL-VW10HT is not cheap on any absolute scale, in the world of video projectors it begins to look like a bargain.

No, it doesn't overcome the usual limitations of LCD technology, particularly a noticeable shortcoming in the deep blacks. But unlike many competitive products, the VPL-VW10HT was designed from the ground up as a home-theater projector, and includes the only 16:9 LCD panels in the industry, together with full control of aspect ratio. Its internal scaler is respectable, but for even better results, it will also accept the component feed from a progressive-scan DVD player. Add outstanding brightness, fine color, excellent detail and resolution, fast and easy setup, and a quiet fan, and you have a powerful performer.

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